Wolgang: Again, my compliments on a wonderful and insightful piece.

   I am not sure what you meant by the following--which you wrote in your second post---:    The GDR was, perhaps, a bit like Austria .

   Not sure what that means.   I meant to say in my first note that Austria is known by that name in English but its native name is OSTREICH. Which makes my mentioning of the "voluntary" Anschluss--still denied to this day by that nation all the more logical since OSTREICH, as you know, translates to EAST REICH. And let us not forget that one of the ex- Secretary Generals of the UN was Waldheim of Austria---who it turned out hid his Nazi past.

   In my opinion the Germans are much more open to remembering the past and making ammends for it through laws they have promulgated. OSTREICH, to its credit, has, albeit reluctantly, paid much in reperations to victims of the time.

    A cousin of mine (now deceased) was enamored of the country and went back as often as she could. Even got her Austrian passport again. One evening at a party she gave her friend--the Austrian Consul General was in attendance ---a lovely man, I must say---asked me if I would like a passport and feel like I am returning home as my cousin felt.   I politely declined and pointed out that when your parents disown you and throw you out of the home your life has gone on and they are not needed or wanted anymore.

    The Consul General, as I said, is a very nice and sincere person who meant what he said in a heartfelt way. He later, at my request, appeared as a guest on my Radio station's Jewish radio program (not hosted by me then as it is now.

Bill Hahn